Ranking the top 10 players in college football

1. Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel, better known as "Johnny Football" was the breakout star of 2012. He is the first freshman to win the Heisman trophy and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. Manziel broke the single season record for offensive production in the SEC with 4600 yards, passing former Heisman winners Cam Newton and Tim Tebow. He is the fifth player in FBS history with 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season. Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports

2. South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is perhaps most notably known for his famous hit on Michigan running back Vincent Smith in the Outback Bowl. After just two seasons he is fifth in school history with 21.0 sacks (the record is 29.0) and tied for second with 35.5 tackles for loss. Clowney has collected 54 tackles (40 solo) and following his sophomore season, he was voted the 2012 AT&T All-American Player of the Year. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports

3. Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron is the first two-time title-winning quarterback of the BCS era. He was named the 2012 BCS offensive MVP. McCarron currently leads the nation (173.08) in passing efficiency, and boasts a career average of one interception every 82.8 pass attempts which is currently on pace to be an SEC record. Marvin Gentry, USA TODAY Sports

4. Louisville Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. He finished the regular season completing 267 of 387 passes for passes for 3,452 with 25 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Bridgewater was named the 2012 Big East Offensive Player of the Year and finished sixth in the nation in completion percentage. Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller lead his team to a perfect 12-0 in the 2012 season. He finished the season with a school-record of 3,310 yards of total offense. Miller has a game high of 249 yards passing and nine 100-yard rushing games. Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports

6. Southern California Trojans receiver Marqise Lee finished the 2012 season as a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver, making him the first Trojan to do so. Lee set the Pac-12 Conference record for receiving yards in a game with 16 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns. He was named the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year and finished with 112 catches for 1,680 yards and 14 touchdowns. Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

7. Alabama Crimson Tide running back TJ Yeldon set the Tide freshman rushing record in 2012 with 1,108 yards on 154 carries. He was named Freshman All-American by Sporting News. Yeldon is Alabama's first true freshman to rush for 100-plus yeards in his debut game and has four 100-yard rushing games, despite coming off the bench all season. Marvin Gentry, USA TODAY Sports

8. Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota. In his first three games with the Ducks he had over 70 percent pass completion. Mariota finished the 2012 season with a 68.5, first in the Pac-12. He averaged 7.1 yards per rush attempt, putting him second in the Pac-12. In one season at Oregon, Mariota passed for a total of 2677 yards and with him just coming into his sophomore season, Ducks fans have a lot to look forward to. Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

9. Clemson Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd had a record setting season in 2012. He finished with 3,828 total passing yards and 33 passing touchdowns. He also ran for 218 yards and five touchdowns. Boyd lead the Tigers to their first 10-win regular season since their National Championship season in 1981. Daniel Shirey, USA Today Sports

10. Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley became the second true freshman in Georgia history to rush for more than 1,000 yards. He set a freshman running back record with 17 rushing touchdowns which is tied for third overall in UGA history. Gurley tallied a season-high 130 yards rushing on 16 carries in a game against Vanderbilt, and also picked up two touchdowns. He also tied a school and NCAA record with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Buffalo. Daniel Shirey, USA TODAY Sports